Theory DeStijl & Purism

Chapter 16: De Stijl and Neo-Plasticism (1917-1931)

1. Old vs. New Consciousness

• Old Consciousness: Focused on the individual.

• New Consciousness: Aimed at the universal, reflecting a broader perspective that influenced both World War and contemporary art.

2. Effects of War

• War destructed the individual-focused old world.

• Call for a new balance between individuality and universality in art and culture.

3. New Art and Consciousness

• Emphasizes equality between the universal and individual.

• Advocates for liberation from tradition and the cult of individuality.

4. Founders of Neo-Plasticism

• Influenced by both Spinozan philosophy and Dutch Calvinism.

• Key figures: Piet Mondrian, Theo van Doesburg, Gerrit Rietveld, Bart van der Leck.

• Aimed to transcend individual tragedy through a universal consciousness.

5. Key Developments of De Stijl

• 1918 Manifesto: Established foundational principles emphasizing purity and the need for reform in art.

• Art Reformation: Influenced by Schoenmaekers’s Neo-Platonic philosophy.

• Prioritized geometric abstraction and primary colors (yellow, blue, red).

6. Architectural Contributions

• Robert van 't Hoff: Early architectural works inspired by Wright.

• Rietveld's Red/Blue Chair: A significant projection of Neo-Plasticism into three-dimensional forms.

• Architecture aimed for openness and the elimination of cubic restrictions.

7. Later Development and International Influence

• Lissitzky's Influence: Introduced Proun compositions, blending Russian and Dutch elementarism.

• Van Doesburg’s works evolved under these new influences, moving away from strict Neo-Plasticism.

8. Tensions Within the Movement

• 1925: Split between Mondrian and Van Doesburg over aesthetics.

• Concern for universality shifted toward addressing technical and social aspects.

9. Design Principles

• Collective Building: Integration of architecture, sculpture, and painting.

• End of Conventional Art: Focus on creating a unified environment free from individualistic notions.

10. Conclusion of De Stijl Movement

• Final works reflected a return to abstraction, losing earlier unity.

• After 1930, most original artists diverged significantly from De Stijl's foundational principles, evolving into varied modern art movements.